The strain definitely was on Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum to ship an NBA championship final season.
He did that. However guess what? The strain remains to be there on his shoulders this season.
The Celtics profitable an NBA title in dominating vogue didn’t sweep all of it away. Certain, Tatum may have extra leeway now that he reached the mountaintop, but when he needs to be thought of one of many all-time greats not solely in Celtics historical past, however in Boston skilled sports activities, he’ll should do extra.
So, Tatum will got down to lead the Celtics to back-to-back championships this season, one thing the long-lasting franchise hasn’t completed in almost 60 years. Larry Chicken didn’t even obtain that feat. And getting one other ring would give Tatum bragging rights over Paul Pierce, who received just one title in his 15 seasons with the Celtics.
If Tatum really needs to cement himself as a Boston sports activities legend, he has to win a number of championships. It’s a non-negotiable. Chicken received three, David Ortiz received three, Bobby Orr received two and naturally, Tom Brady topped all of them by profitable an astounding six Tremendous Bowls with the New England Patriots.
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“It was by no means nearly making an attempt to win one, proper?” Tatum mentioned final month at Celtics media day. “Now, we get to be no less than in the identical room with the opposite Celtics nice groups, the opposite nice gamers. All the fellows I seemed as much as rising up no less than received one championship. Now, it’s only a dialog of how nice are you making an attempt to be? What room, or what tier you’re making an attempt to be talked about in when it’s all mentioned and executed and understanding the window that you need to maximize that point.
“So, yeah, it does really feel completely different. Being up right here as a champion and figuring out what it takes and eager to be on the highest of the mountain as many occasions as you’ll be able to.”
It’s one step at a time for Tatum, although. The Celtics constructed their group round their cornerstone items in Tatum and Jaylen Brown. However Tatum took a backseat at occasions to Brown in final season’s playoff run, as evidenced by Brown strolling away with each Japanese Convention finals MVP and NBA Finals MVP honors.
The magnifying glass shall be on Tatum to see if that occurs once more within the playoffs. Tatum did lead the Celtics in factors, rebounds and assists within the Finals, however did not seize a signature second in Boston’s playoff run that may stay on perpetually. Brown had a few these moments — see game-tying nook 3-pointer in Sport 1 towards the Indiana Pacers and a clutch jumper towards the Dallas Mavericks in Sport 3 — as did Jrue Vacation, Derrick White, Kristaps Porzingis and Payton Pritchard.
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The all-time greats make the most important performs on the most important stage. Tatum, whereas productive within the playoffs, hasn’t executed that fairly but. And the stink of capturing 26.3% from past the arc within the Finals hasn’t washed off but, both.
He has loads of time to create legendary postseason moments with Boston’s championship window vast open after Tatum inked a large five-year contract, price as much as $315 million — an NBA document. That deal will heighten expectations, too.
Everybody will search for Tatum to supply evening in and evening out whatever the state of affairs. And when he doesn’t, he’ll hear it. And when he does, it is going to be simply him assembly expectations most nights. Unfair, however that’s what comes with being the most effective participant on the most effective group within the NBA.
He’ll possible put his identify within the MVP dialog most seasons. Getting his palms on a number of of these definitely received’t damage his legacy. He has been shut, ending within the high six in every of the final three seasons.
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However on the finish of the day, the regular-season MVPs will solely be a footnote to his Celtics legacy. He shall be measured in championships and championships alone.
That’s the one factor that issues in Boston.
